Rev. John H. “Jack” Brooks, 88, of Sioux Falls

John Herman Brooks was born in Chicago, IL on June 5, 1924. His parents were Edward L. Brooks and Minnie C. (Zarbach) Brooks. Jack was raised in the rural resort community of Beulah, Michigan, graduating from the Benzonia High School in 1943. For 6 years, he worked at the local drug store, and served as a licensed minister at his boyhood Eden Congregational Church.

In the fall of 1949, he enrolled in the Yankton College School of Theology in Yankton, SD. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953, and his Bachelor of Theology degree in 1954. He was ordained into the Christian Ministry on December 12, 1954. He served the Letcher and Loomis Congregational Churches from 1952 to 1958. On June 24, 1956, he was united in marriage with Ramona Brost.

In the fall of 1958, they moved to Boston, MA where Jack enrolled in the Andover Newton School of Theology, receiving his Master of Arts degree in theology in 1961. During his graduate work, he served as pastor to students at Rowley, MA.

Following his graduation from seminary, he and his wife moved to Benson, MN where he served the Pilgrim Congregational Church. It was there that his two daughters, Mary Jo and Debby were born. After a 6 year pastorate at Benson, he and his family moved to Aberdeen, SD. During his 14 year pastorate there, a new church was built. He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of which he became president. His subsequent parishes include 4 years in Dubuque, IA and 5 years at the Larchwood and Rock Rapids parishes in Iowa. In 1979, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Yankton College. For 16 years, he spent much of his retirement years as part time visitation pastor and Pastor Emeritus at the First Congregational Church in Sioux Falls.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Ramona Brooks, of Sioux Falls, SD; his daughters, Mary Jo Brooks and Debby Peterson and their families.

Funeral services will begin 10:30 am Friday at First Congregational Church. Interment will be in the Parkston Protestant Cemetery, Parkston, SD. Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Thursday at the Halladay-Peterson Chapel of Dow Rummel Village.